Need Wiring Help

rhahn427

Junior Member
I just realized that the 4 switches in the dash of my Sport 18 CC are not working. I checked the connections at the fuse panel under the console and I seem to be getting just under 12 volts on both sides of the fuses and I changed all of the fuses ......... there are so many wires that it's tough to trace anyone of them to see exactly how they are wired.

Is there something I'm missing ........ are their wiring diagrams for my boat ........ can't figure why all of the switches are not working.

All fo the gauges that are hooked to the ignition are working ......... right now I don't have the courtesy or navigation lights, manual bilge or the livewell pump.

Also, how do you get access to the livewell pump ..... can't seem to find an easy access point ......... looks like might be up front in the console but you might have to lift the console to get to it ..........

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks

Rick
 
Your probably not going to get a straight answer to your problem or even a wireing diagram (if so, most likely incorrect).
Well over half the defects in a 12 volt system is the ground wire connections. It is possible to backfeed and seek a ground (or hot for that matter) from most any device, when the device fails then a whole bunch of things happen (or don't in this case).
Check the obvious like you're doing and then look at the ground wires. Test the power at the devices (or where the wires start to them) across the ground and hot to be sure of both wires are making contact.
 
Also use a test light and not a digital meter, you will get strange readings with the digital.
The digital meters are very useful to determine actual voltage but will give backfeed readings when trying to trace a problem, the bulb type basically will glow when voltage or current is present.
 
Got camera?
Take pics of fuse panel and where the negetive wires connect.
Hell take pictures of everything. ;D ;D
 
Ok ....... gonna get a test light and take some pictues ......... trying to find someone to pay do it but not having much luck so I geuss I'll have to tryi it myself ....... thanks for the tips ........ guess I'm gonna learn something here .......
 
See if there is anything useful here.
Wellcraft Owners Manual's
« on: Oct 18th, 2007, 8:31am » Quote Modify

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I was on the Wellcraft website and found links to old owners manuals. The one for the "70's" boats also includes wireing diagrams for the V-20's and others.

Probably old news to most, but thought I would share.

http://www.wellcraft.com/index.cfm?

Click "Owners" on this page.
« Last Edit: Oct 18th, 2007, 8:32am by randlemanboater
 
If the entire panel failed, I'd look at the hot and ground feeding the panel starting with the connections at the battery.
 
I agree with Air and T; check those ground wires especially at the battery. Make sure you have clean terminals and tight connections.

Recently, when I turned on my battery switch, the trim on my motor started to go down all by itself as though I had pushed the button. Then, my anchor light stopped working. Turned out, the wires had gotten loose at the negative terminal of the battery. Tightened the wingnut and I'm good to go now...

Steve
 
R, ditto on the test light. you could have voltage, but it drops when a load is put on it. a test light will do both voatage & draw.

i'm sure they are all different , but i found an inline fuse on the neg side 3 feet away from the battery behind the rod box inserts. no telling what all has been done.
 
Airslot said:
If the entire panel failed, I'd look at the hot and ground feeding the panel starting with the connections at the battery.

Thg gauges work and the ignition works ...... it's just the 4 switches ........
 
Update ........ took the boat over to a friends house, Skip (Sailfish 27 on Tidalfish) ......... he saw the mess .... it looked like the boat had been rewired several times and none of the wire had been taken out ........ by the time we (or I should say Skip) finished, we had a pile of wire ....... must have been 100' or more ........

I decided that since we were rewiring that I should replace just about everything ...... new radio, antennae, anchor light, speakers, flood lights, plugs, horn and to move some stuff into the electronics box ......... should get it back this weekend ...... can't wait .......
 
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